This is one of the first things brought up in your orientation on site or even in most safety training classes. This is not where you get toppings for a hot dog… it’s where workers safely assemble in the case of an emergency. These meeting points help avoid unaccounted for workers and work for even a huge scale of workers. However, if we become careless about muster points, they are pointless. They might as well be signs that say “chaos” or “stampede” in their place. It’s a blessing if we never have to use these assembly points, but that doesn’t mean we can forget about them all together.Always know where your muster point is. The one you had in orientation has probably changed and could change day to day, even hour to hour depending on where you’re working. If you’re not sure ask a supervisor. Please don’t settle for a general answer like “by the wash cart”. There are tons of wash carts. Get someone to point it out and if you need to, physically walk over to it so you won’t forget. Always write it on you JHA. Make sure you go over it with your partner or crew working in the same area. Always ask when signing into a JHA. Keep in mind, if an emergency does occur and you’re at the wrong muster point, no one will know where you are and a search could ensue. If you do end up at the wrong one, make sure you tell the appointed safety officer in charge of that muster point, so he/she can radio it in. This will save everyone’s time and worrying about your whereabouts.

Muster points are one of the many things we pray we never have to actually use. However we need to be very aware of them. This is one of the reasons most sites do practice evacuations. This is great, but you need to take it upon yourself to always be in the know. Every time you change work areas, know your muster point and know you’ll be safe.

Just the smallest amount of hydrogen sulfide can have huge effects on the human body. H2S is measured in parts per million. One PMM means one part gas per one million parts air, that’s nothing right? Wrong! H2S starts to wreak havoc at just 0.01 PPM. Let me break down just how deadly this gas really is. (Oh geez did I just say “deadly gas”?)0.01 – 0.3 PPM – This is called the odour threshold and it smells like rotten eggs. You know the guy that eats egg salad every day in the lunch trailer… It smells like him.1 – 20 PPM – The egg smell is even more offensive, causing nausea, tearing of the eyes and headaches.20 -100 PPM – There is nose, eye, throat, lung and digestive irritation, accompanied by the loss of appetite and smell.100 – 200 PPM – Nose, throat and lung irritation is now severe. Your sense of smell is completely gone now.250 – 500 PPM – Fluid will begin to build up in your lungs.500 PPM – Excitement, staggering and sudden collapse is possible now, along with loss of your memory for exposure time, dizziness, unconsciousness and death within a few hours.500 – 1000 PPM – Respiratory paralysis, irregular heartbeat, collapse and death without rescue.Over 1000 PPM – Immediate death. Game over, you didn’t have a chance.Talking about “deadly gas” can be kind of funny, but H2S is absolutely no joke. Make sure you’re trained before entering any area that may contain any amount of H2S. For more information click here.

Here is another snippet from our “soon to be released” H2S course. To keep our courses engaging, we include a mix of animation, video, pictures and set it all with a little background guitar for any music enthusiasts out there…well that part is a bit of a stretch. None the less, we hope you find it interesting and informative…some recent incidents are also included. It brings home the serious nature of H2S and why everyone should be trained.

When it comes to rigging I’m kind of a geek. I once pulled my family over while in the U.S. to watch a huge lift. They are fascinating, there is so much that goes into these lifts. Whether pulling a small piece of pipe to your station with an overhead crane, or a crazy lift on site, hand signals are a must.

Make sure you know them if you’re participating in the lift. If you’re unsure, sit this one out and observe, don’t participate until you are confident with them. Make sure all workers communicate a review of the hand signals before they begin the lift. Pick one signal person. When doing signals, do them slowly and exaggerated, make sure the operator can see you clearly. Do a distinct move to show a signal is over before starting a new one. As for the operator, never respond to an unclear signal. And always remember that a “stop” signal is to be followed, no matter who gives it.

There is so much more to these lifts than just hand signals and if you want to be more than a spectator like me on the side of the road, take our rigging course, learn the in’s and out’s and be a confident participant in some amazing lifts.

ABCS is introducing their new 3D character named “Abel Wiseman” who is wearing a full-body harness and shock absorbing lanyard. He is using a cable wrap connected to an I-beam that serves as his anchorage.

ABCS is introducing their new 3D character named “Abel Wiseman” who is wearing a full-body harness and shock absorbing lanyard. He is using a cable wrap connected to an I-beam that serves as his anchorage.